Zero Gravity Finals: underclassmen who impressed part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend, I attended the Zero Gravity Finals at the Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton, MA. I watched teams in the 10th grade and varsity divisions, mostly in the top division of each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, it's impossible to see all of the teams in any given division — there are tons of locations and a handful of games going at once at all times. I try to watch as many games and players as I can. So, this week, I'll be recapping some of the players that stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part one: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/06/zero-gravity-finals-crown-hgsl-2026-standouts/?itm_source=parsely-api">Crown HGSL 17u standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part two: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/06/zero-gravity-finals-middlesex-magic-standouts-part-1/?itm_source=parsely-api">Middlesex Magic standouts part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part three: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/06/zero-gravity-finals-middlesex-magic-standouts-part-2/?itm_source=parsely-api">Middlesex Magic standouts part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is part four, some underclassmen who impressed at the ZG Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2879085"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6848b628acc47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Denton was playing up in the varsity division against some really tough competition and looked supremely comfortable and confident. The 6-foot-5 wing strokes it from three but can also attack closeouts and finish with really good touch around the rim. I was so impressed with his composure and big shot making against a really tough Crown HGSL team. Super skilled player with tons of potential moving forward, especially if he continues to grow and get stronger. I could also see him reclassifying and transferring schools, which would give him another year to grow and get stronger. Bright future ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470930"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6848b628acca6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Njenga is such a well-rounded two way player, and there isn't really anything he can't do on the basketball court. The 6-foot guard has an excellent handle and solid quickness, which allows him to blow by defenders effortlessly and get to the front of the rim. He's a great finisher with contact but he's also super impressive in the midrange and can knock down threes as well. He's so controlled and makes all the right decisions on that end. Defensively, he's a ball hawk with fantastic hands and lateral quickness who was giving opposing guards hell all weekend. The sophomore guard should be a key player for St. George's next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470964"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6848b628accf5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pemberton was the best 2027 player I saw this weekend, and it wasn't particularly close. The 6-foot guard is a fantastic athlete who can elevate at the rim for effortless finishes and gets SO high on his pull-up jump shot that nobody can ever contest it. He hit multiple huge shots towards the end of the championship game against BABC and almost single handedly pulled of an insane upset. When he was trapped in the halfcourt, he made excellent decisions to get out of bad situations and has the ability to dribble through multiple players confidently. Really special player who should be a division one prospect despite his lack of size for the point guard position. Special player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194726"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6848b628acd49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was my first time seeing Buckley play and I was impressed with his all-around offensive game. He has the handle necessary to get to various spots on the floor, and he can elevate in the midrange or at the three-point line to knock down shots. He also has some sneaky elevation at the rim and some really long arms which he uses effectively for all kinds of finishes. Oh, and he's a really solid passer who sees the floor well and is unselfish. He took his Expressions team down to the wire against a really tough BABAC squad that's a year older. For a freshman, he's in an excellent place and should have a nice season at Thayer Academy next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Yann Kamagate","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77243","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Darrow Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Expressions","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6848b628acde5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wow. Yann Kamagate is impossible to look away from the moment you enter the gym. The 6-foot-11 freshman has incredibly long arms and looks like he could even be growing more based on how his face and body looks. His offensive feel is still in its early stages, but he basically touches the rim without jumping. Defensively, he uses his size and length to protect the paint, though he still needs to learn how to rotate. Coaches should play the long game with Kamagate, but the potential is through the roof given his ridiculous physical tools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->